ITEM TITLE:
City Manager’s Report
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Detter, City Manager
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and file
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The following detail my activities for the past two weeks:
• Met with School Superintendent to discuss pre-K programming and funding.
• Met with Mayor, College President, and School Superintendent to discuss common issues.
• Visited Juneau with Mayor Pro Tem Sharon Scheidt, Council Member Alan Sorum, and City Clerk Sheri Pierce. Two major topics were discussed with various legislatures.
-Marine Highway System. Ferry service throughout the state and Prince William Sound is dependent on the legislature allocating and the Governor approving some restoration of monies to the Ferry system. City lobbyist Kim Hutchinson represents Ferry workers in addition to the City. Mr. Hutchinson arranged a meeting for the City of Valdez and Ferry workers with a staffer representing the House transportation committee. Additionally, City representatives attended a hearing related to the Department of Transportation, which heavily focused on the current plans for Ferry funding in 2020 (and the State’s 2021 fiscal year). Several of the Ferries are not in use due to maintenance issues. However, the indication given to the committee by the Transportation Commissioner was that if funding is restored, vessel maintenance will be expedited and the more frequent Ferry service should be available starting in May of 2020.
-Hilcorp/BP Transaction. In addition to discussions held with Hilcorp by the Mayor, City Clerk, and City Manager at the beginning of February and an additional meeting by the Mayor with representatives of Hilcorp in Anchorage; City Council Members, the City Clerk, and City Manager discussed the Hilcorp issue with legislators in Juneau. Legislators essentially said that RCA and DNR were the state agencies tasked with vetting the Hilcorp/BP transaction. It is possible the legislature could request hearings and further oversight of the transaction, but so far no major efforts have been made by the legislature to create such hearings. City Council Members and City staff relayed the same message to Legislators that the Mayor did to the RCA when giving public testimony on February 3rd; The City of Valdez is anxious to begin a partnership with Hilcorp, but the Valdez community desires a thorough review of Hilcorp’s finances and overall safety record. Also, an analysis of Hilcorp’s past actions in relation to property valuation issues and general taxation issues would be helpful as well.
The major issues I will be working on the next two weeks relate to:
• Lowe River Flood Control Project-DNR Permitting.
• Preparation for Director’s Retreat.
• Monitoring on-going issues with Hilcorp transaction.
• Working with Assistant City Manager Murphy and Planning Director Huber on kick off of Comprehensive Plan update process.
• Navigating office communications without assistance of Debbie Roberts (please be patient with me during last two weeks of February).
• Focusing on proposal from Cordes Development for multi-family housing in Valdez.